It Could Have Been Me. . .

I spent the weekend of the 8-9th, and part of the 7th, at my Sisters house in Butler County.  I was there for a Pirates baseball game and a concert featuring the band O.A.R.  I had a great time playing with my Nephew, annoying my Sister, and even made a rare appearance at a family reunion.

What I did not expect was the ballgame itself to take nearly 4 hours!  I had to abandon the post-game concert as I did not like the idea of driving the country roads that it takes to get to Sister's home late at night.  I did manage to get a bit lost and ended up in a neighbor's driveway.  The neighborhood, which is well-armed, was already on edge as a criminal was on the loose.

The next day, while doing an on-line course, I realized how close I may have come to being a Renisha McBride, the African-American woman who was shot on a front porch after being in an accident.  Pennsylvania, you see, has a "Castle Doctrine" law.  I am not sure a driveway is considered part of the house, but the owner could have, without asking any questions, shot at me.  A strange car pulling into a driveway at night, especially in light of what had transpired, may have been seen as a threat.

The on-line course got me to thinking about something else.  The N.R.A and their allies like to trumpet the murder rates in large cities,but ignore the accidental shootings, etc that happen in so many of the rural areas that make up their base.  About the only person I know who keeps track of this is progressive radio host David Waldman.  Of course, to the N.R.A, it seems that any gun death, accidental or otherwise, is a "price of freedom".

A Point of Intersection and The NRA Loses Standing

At services today, during our general prayers, we offered a prayer for those killed last week in Charlestown, South Carolina.  Much has been made about the sentiments of the shooter, and it may have sprurred a renewed interest in legislative action.  With an election coming up, that seems a bit unlikely.

But those tragic events may be an opportunity for two movements that have seemed to existed in parallel, but never quite intersected, until now.

The shooting in Charleston was not just another mass shooting, it was a mass shooting at an African-American church.  It also seems that the shooter may have targeted the church because it was African-American. 

Could this be the opportunity for the "Black Lives Matter" movement and the movement for "Gunsense" to start collaborating?  The two groups don't seem to be overlapping very much.  When I went to an event sponsored by Heeding God's Call of Harrisburg, and then a movie sponsored by Harrisburg's contribution to "Black Lives Matter", I was one of only two people at both.

It's been suggested that the reason police are so aggressive to people of color, is that they presumed they are armed at all times, laws to limit straw purchases, or require stolen guns be reported, are among those opposed by the National Rifle Association.  As a response to this fear, we say "Stand Your Ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws passed.

The death of Trayvon Martin and the Tuscon Shooting were not that far apart, perhaps it's time to for the two movements to start working more closely.

Beyond a Fashion Statement

I'm #WearingOrange because I've seen what guns and violence have done to my hometown pic.twitter.com/S0MMeUzRBB

— HarrisburgUnderFire (@HarrisburgU_F) June 2, 2015

Tuesday, June 3, I joined thousands of people to participate in "Wear Orange" day.  This event, organized by Everytown For Gun Safety, was to call attention to issues of guns and gun violence in America.

It looks like is was an impressive show of support, and some of the responses from the "Redneck Taliban" were an indication that the message was sent and received.  This also is a further indication that Everytown, Mom's Demand, etc are not going away anytime soon. Unlike the Million Mom's Movement of the early part of the 21st Century, this movement for sane and rational gun laws seems to have legs!

But wearing orange is not enough.  With the 2016 primary elections less than a year away, an effort needs to made to "Vote Orange", to make firearms policy an issue not only in the Presidential election but in the elections for United States House and Senate, and state races also!  I am not saying that firearms policy need be the main issue, but the Democrats putting a background check, etc plank into their platform cannot hurt, especially with the GOP field looking like they're mainly aiming for the mobile estates.

I am sure candidates in some States and districts may fear the National Rifle Association and it's "Insurrectionists", but money from Everytown and boots on the ground from Mom's Demand may calm some of those fears.

Answering The Call

Photo By James D'Angelo

On Saturday, April 25, the Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church hosted a "Stand in Solidarity" event for sensible gun laws.  A minor accident delayed the start of the event, and Rev Belita Mitchell of the host church worked the delay into her opening remarks when she mentioned how efforts to pass common-sense gun laws had "stalled".

Photo By James D'Angelo

State Representative Patty Kim gave a view from inside the State General Assembly of the struggles faced in that body to pass reasonable laws.  She spoke of the law that allows out of state groups to sue cities who attempt to pass laws to prohibit the unlawful discharge of firearms in their city or require safe storage, and of the power the NRA, etc have over the State Assembly.  

Photo By James D'Angelo

Briel Slocum brought a community perspective on the effects guns and violence had on her.  Telling of several incidents where she or a family member was nearly shot.

Photo By James D'Angelo

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse was unable to attend, but Police Chief Thomas Carter was there to speak both of the efforts to combat illegal guns in the city and efforts to fight crime in general.

Photo By James D'Angelo

 There were opportunities for the community to ask questions of the speakers.  Catholic Worker activist Naed Smith took an opportunity to ask questions.

A local community member also engaged Chief Carter in a spirited discussion.

Photo By James D'Angelo

Photo By James D'Angelo

Heeding God's Call Executive Director Brian Miller closed the event with words of inspiration.  Speaking of how the group has grown from its beginnings in New Jersey, to it's success in Philadelphia. 

He also reminded the guests that this is a long struggle. 

History, Repeating?

April 19, 1995 was an ordinary day for me.  I went to my classes at Rochester Institute of Technology, and took a break for my afternoon workout.

While this was going on, I saw footage of a bombing in Oklahoma City.  I dismissed it as part of the regular programming.  When they announced that the director of the F.B.I was going to be speaking, I realized that this was not a plot twist.

My first thought, like many Americans, was foreign terrorists.  The 1st World Trade Center bombings had passed, and I figured some foreign group had decided to try an attack on a softer target.  In the weeks and months to come, it was revealed that the attack had been the effort of domestic extremists.
That tragedy in Oklahoma City seemed to make the end of the militia movement, but they may have only looked dead.

The election of Barack Obama has sparked a rise in "patriot groups".  These groups have found a political voice with the "Tea Party" and may have re-armed.  Much of the rhetoric from the National Rifle Association can sound like that which came from the militia movement of the 1990s. 

Could we see another attack like Oklahoma City.  As the "Redneck Taliban" that make up the membership base of the N.R.A see their vision of America more and more threatened, they could make a try.  A federal court building, and Internal Revenue Service Office or even an ATF office could all be targets. 

Of course, with Islamophobia being a large part of the conservative mindset, a mosque may be a more likely target.